The “October Demonstrations” committee declared today, on Saturday, that it had given the political forces in Iraq until October 25 to put an end to the political process, after which it will take “escalatory” action.
Additionally, the protesters’ steering committee asked for “the formation of a temporary transitional government under international supervision.
if none of the political and partisan actors, such as the current executive authority represented by (Iraqi Prime Minister) Mustafa Al-Kazemi, who governed the nation in previous years, are included.
The committee’s statement further affirmed that, if the political forces did not comply with the requests, it would initiate a “million campaign to gather signatures on a petition denouncing this regime” and urged all Iraqis to take part in it.
This declaration was made shortly after the United Nations Mission in Iraq urged everyone to avoid using violence and to stop an escalation due to the protests that are now occurring in the capital city of Baghdad.
On the third anniversary of the Baghdad protests in October 2019, she stated on her Twitter account, “We emphasise that the freedom to peaceful protest is crucial to democracy.”
The delegation also praised the Iraqi security forces for their “professional” handling of the ongoing protests “so far.”
Nine citizens and 19 security personnel were hurt during today’s demonstrations in the capital, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell.
To mark the third anniversary of the significant and unprecedented uprising against authority, the corrupting influence of the ruling class, and the poor management of public services in a nation experiencing total political paralysis, thousands of protesters gathered in Baghdad.
As they gathered in the iconic Tahrir Square to remember, the protestors, who were primarily young people, also chanted against politicians and militias while holding up Iraqi flags and images of the 2019 dead.
In order to restrict entry to the Green Zone, which is home to Western embassies and government institutions, they also congregated at the entrance to the Jumhuriya Bridge. This bridge was blocked off by three concrete blocks placed by security personnel.
It is significant that nationwide protests broke out in October 2019—particularly in the south’s impoverished governorates. And it lasted for several months in the oil-rich nation. During that time, hundreds of thousands of protesters set up camp in Tahrir Square and called for an end to corruption, the expansion of unemployment, the failure of the infrastructure, the absence of democracy, and other issues.
However, the Covid pandemic’s constraints and the violence that has left nearly 600 people dead and 30,000 injured have sapped its momentum.
But three years later, little has altered in Iraq. The political scene is still paralysed, and the mood is tense.
Prior to the escalation, the October movement’s demands must be met by the Iraqi army.
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